Softwr

Software · head to head

ARKit vs Immersed

ARKit logo

ARKit

Software

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Immersed logo

Immersed

Software

Work from anywhere in VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ARKit iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems; Immersed the free Starter Mode is limited to 3 virtual screens
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Immersed covers Virtual monitors.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Immersed actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Immersed differ
AttributeARKitImmersed
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSVr, Quest, Pc
Founded19762017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ARKit

  • World tracking
  • Face tracking
  • Body tracking
  • LiDAR support
  • RealityKit
  • Reality Composer
  • SceneKit
  • Ar support

Only in Immersed

  • Virtual monitors
  • Hand tracking
  • Passthrough
  • Collaboration
  • Mac/Windows
  • Video calls
  • Keyboard tracking
  • Vr support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ARKit

  • VR Gamingnot Immersed
  • AR Marketingnot Immersed
  • Virtual Trainingnot Immersed
  • 3D Visualizationnot Immersed
  • Immersive Experiencesnot Immersed

Immersed

  • Working with multiple virtual monitors inside a VR or mixed reality headsetnot ARKit
  • Remote co-working in a shared virtual officenot ARKit
  • Replacing physical monitors for laptop-based worknot ARKit

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ARKit

  • iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems
  • Location-based AR accuracy limited to 3-5 meters, insufficient for precise applications
  • Cannot handle very fast motion capture
  • Accuracy varies with lighting conditions and surface characteristics
  • Requires iOS 11 or later and specific device hardware

Immersed

  • The free Starter Mode is limited to 3 virtual screens
  • Free screen resolutions are capped at standard sizes up to 1440x900
  • The free tier rotates through only 2 alternating environments each week
  • The free tier's 4 collaborator private rooms and offline mode are both marked as limited time only features
  • Offline mode still requires a Wi-Fi connection at startup
  • Immersed Pro starts at $5.99 per month billed monthly on a pay what you want slider
  • A supported headset such as Apple Vision Pro or Quest 3 must be bought separately

Pricing, plan by plan

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

Immersed

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 virtual monitors
    • Basic environments
    • Solo work

Which should you pick?

Choose ARKit if

  • You need world tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS.
  • You also want face tracking.
ARKit review

Choose Immersed if

  • You need virtual monitors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Vr, Quest, Pc.
  • You also want hand tracking.
Immersed review

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Immersed better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit starts at Free and Immersed at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARKit or Immersed?
ARKit starts at Free and Immersed at Free.
Does ARKit or Immersed run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Immersed runs on Vr, Quest, Pc.
Can I use ARKit for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ARKit best used for?
ARKit is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Immersed is typically brought in for.
What can ARKit do that Immersed cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Immersed covers Virtual monitors, Hand tracking, Passthrough, Collaboration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ARKit: Is ARKit free to use?

Yes, ARKit is free to use. It is included in Apple's iOS SDK and requires only Xcode and a Mac to start building AR apps. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs.

Source
ARKit: What iOS devices support ARKit?

ARKit is supported on iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro models, and the latest iPad models. It requires iOS 11 or later. Apple Vision Pro also supports ARKit with enhanced capabilities through visionOS.

Source
ARKit: Can ARKit work offline?

ARKit can function offline for tracking and scene understanding since these operations run locally on the device. However, multiplayer AR features and cloud-based object detection require internet connectivity.

Source
ARKit: Does ARKit integrate with game engines?

Yes, ARKit integrates with Unity through the Unity ARKit Plugin and with Unreal Engine. Developers can also use it with Metal, SceneKit, and Apple's RealityKit framework.

Source
ARKit: What are ARKit's limitations with location-based AR?

ARKit's location-based positioning has accuracy limitations. Image-based positioning is primarily useful in urban areas, and beacon-based navigation provides accuracy of 3-5 meters, which is insufficient for precise AR applications requiring 1-meter accuracy or better.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on ARKit

More on Immersed

Keep looking

Other head to heads